Care for a potted petunia

Petunias are very resistant and colorful flowers that adapt well to growing in containers such as pots or hanging baskets. However, keep in mind that even the healthiest and most vigorous plant needs basic care, particularly if you want to keep it blooming throughout the growing period. Caring for a cute hanging petunia pot is not laborious at all, it only takes a few minutes each day.

Headed

If you want your petunias to bloom throughout the season, you should remove all the withered flowers. As the flower begins to die, take it firmly just below the tiny green hood and pluck it from the stem. This is known as “headless”. Keep in mind that by removing the flowers and not the little green hoods at the ends, you are not promoting additional growth, but inviting the plant to replace the flower. Petunias are very fragrant and release a kind of sticky sap when decapitated. If this is a problem for you, use scissors to remove the dried flowers.

Irrigation

Petunias have a high water content in both their foliage and flowers, so they need to have a frequent watering routine that prevents them from drying out and getting damaged. You may notice that your plant seems to wilt at the end of a hot day, only to revive moments after getting a little water. Water your pots with petunias in the morning hours so they have enough water to spend the day with. In very hot and sunny or windy and dry regions, you will most likely need to water them twice a day.

Rotation

Petunia flowers have a habit of reaching out to the sun during their growth stages. This will eventually make your pot appear crooked. It is almost certain that one side will have an abundant cascade of flowers on the outer side, while the other will be empty. To avoid this, the pot should be rotated every three days. Rotate the plant a quarter of a turn at a time to ensure that all parts of the plant are receiving an adequate amount of sunlight. If your flowerpot is already out of balance, turn the flowerless side towards the sun and leave it that way for a week or until the problem has been corrected.

Other basic care

Petunias are very hardy plants and rarely require special care. In fact, you can trim your plants to make them taller, or cut the falling area to invite it to spread out. Petunias need to be fertilized infrequently, only after many withered flowers have been removed. This will help stimulate the appearance of new buds and flowers. Always remember to lower your hanging flower pots to the ground to avoid being knocked down by storms or wind and plants being affected.